The only place where the Hawaiian language is spoken on a daily basis is on the private island of Ni'ihau, located just off the coast of Kauai. Throughout all the islands you will find many Hawaiian names, words and expressions used in daily life. In fact 85% of all place names in Hawaii are Hawaiian and often have interesting stories behind how they got the name. The Polynesians never had a written language until the Missionaries arrived and found they needed a Hawaiian Bible, so they quickly developed a twelve letter alphabet. It includes five vowels and seven consonants which are pronounced just as they are in English except for the W, which is often pronounced as a V. Hawaiian Pidgin or Slang is another common way of communicating in everyday conversation amongst locals.

Here is a video on YouTube.com if you would like to learn more about the Hawaiian Language. If you would like to learn a few everyday words or some everyday slang please see our table below. If you would like to add more words or let us know some comments please contact us.

Here are a few words that you may hear during your visit to the islands. You may also be interested in a Hawaiian-English dictionary which covers more that 5000 words and an introduction to the Hawaiian Language.

Vowels:

A, E, I, O and U

Consonants:

H, K, L, M, N, P and W

Pidgin/Slang

What it means

Brah

brother, friend

Da Kine

can be substituted for anyword

Howzit

How are you?, how is it going?

Mo'bettah

this is a better way

Shaka (hand gesture)

great, cool, take it easy

Stink eye

getting a dirty look

Tanks eh?

thank you

Regularly used Hawaiian words

English Translation

A

Aloha

greeting used to say hello or goodbye. Aloha can also mean love

'Aina

land earth

A'a

sharp lava

Ali'i

Hawaiian royalty

Akamai

smart, intelligent

H

Hale

house or home

Hana

work, bay

Haole

foreigner, Caucasian

Hapa

portion or part, mix of races, such as
hapa-haole

Hau`oli

happy

Heiau

ancient Hawaiian religious temple on a raised base of lava rocks

Hoku

star

Holoholo

to walk or travel for fun

Honu

turtle

Hula

Hawaiian form of communication
using dance

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a

our State Fish, the Hawaiian triggerfish

I

imu

underground pit oven used for cooking luau

K

kahuna

Hawaiian priest

kai

ocean, salt water

kama`aina

native-Hawaiian or long-time resident

kane

man

kapu

forbidden, sacred

kupuna

respected elder

kupunakane

grandfather

kupunawahine

grandmother

kau kau

food

ku`uipo

sweetheart

L

lanai

porch, veranda

lani

heavenly

laulau

meat or fish wrapped in taro leaves and steamed in a ti leaf packet

lei

garland of flowers, leaves, nuts, or shells

lolo

crazy

luau

feast

M

mahalo

thank you

mahi-mahi

dolphin fish

makahiki

ancient Hawaiian celebration held annually with sports and religious festivities

malihini

newcomer, visitor

mauna

mountain

mele

song, sing

menehune

mythical small people who are rumored to have inhabited the Hawaiian islands before the Polynesians